Advisor Software rolls out iPad app for consumers

Most advisers, if they are familiar with the company, will likely recognize it for other products, for example its software powers the built-in rebalancing engines found at a couple of custodians, among other things. The new iPad application is called goalGetter and is available to consumers for free in Apple's App Store. The application is meant to help consumers visualize financial goals like home-buying, college financing, or retirement planning. In building the iPad application the firm did not start from scratch but instead followed the "drag and drop" approach it used for its goalgami personal financial management website launched in March 2010 in which users manipulate goal icons to help forge a plan. goalGetter also includes an actionable savings plan built on a savings timeline. After a user puts it together the program computes the affordability of the plan based on resource inputs provided by the user. If the software deems a plan unaffordable, goalGetter will in turn let the user know how much money they need to set aside per month in order to pay for the goal. "We're on a mission to help educate the general public about goal plans and the trade-offs and sacrifices that are necessary to achieve those goals. goalGetter is a new and interactive way for people to explore their goals and how they can make those dreams come true," ASI president Neal Ringquist said in a prepared statement. "It is vital for financial advisers to have applications like goalGetter and goalgami in their toolkits so they can help clients formulate the best ways to prioritize and achieve their personal finance goals." There is no shortage of similar applications out there and perhaps the most popular and one of the first is that of Mint.com, which is in use by millions. When it comes to other advisory technology firms doing something for consumers, another neat entry would be that of Retire Logix for iPhone from Finance Logix/Oltis Software LLC.